Around 10,000 masked football fans have been allowed to take their seats in sports venues in London, Carlisle, Shrewsbury and Cambridge as England exits its four-week lockdown.
Fans went to the 27,000-capacity Valley sports stadium in Charlton to watch the League One clash between Charlton Athletic and MK Dons, while Carlisle United squared off against Salford City in Brunton Park.
Grounds have remained mostly empty since March 13, as fears of the spread of coronavirus ripped across the UK and government instructions to avoid mass gatherings were issued.
Supporters returning to stadiums are also exempt from Tier 2 restrictions which state that they can only be served alcohol with a substantial meal. They will be forced to stay in concourses and must be seated to have food and drink, while hospitality in sports venues must take last orders at 10pm.
It comes as Labour urged Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to set out a plan to ensure sports fans safely travel to reopened stadiums, as five Premier League matches take place in front of spectators this weekend. A strategy is required to ensure bottlenecks are avoided on bus, rail and London Underground networks, according to Labour.
Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: “Ministers need to have a plan in place to protect fans and transport workers ahead of the return of spectators to sports grounds this weekend. As eager fans head to kick-offs at their home grounds for the first time in months, they need the confidence that they can do so safely.”
Mr McMahon has also called for the Government to deliver mass coronavirus testing for transport workers and suspend peak fares over Christmas to minimise the risk of overcrowding.
Charlton Athletic fans in the stands prior to the Sky Bet Championship match at The Valley
Fans of Carlisle United look on from their socially distanced positions in the terraces as the Carlisle United side warm up ahead of the Sky Bet League Two match
Luton Town fans wearing protective face masks applaud in Kenilworth Road, Luton
Fans in the stands at Kenilworth Road in Luton as Luton Town play Norwich City
To fill up spaces in the stands, cut outs have been added to Brunton Park in Carlisle
A fan has their temperature taken prior to entering Kenilworth Road for football
Luton Town fans outside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match
It comes after Michael Gove was forced to deny that venues including sports grounds might insist on proof of a jab in return for granting entry after Boris Johnson’s vaccines tsar Nadhim Zahawi made the suggestion.
Government guidelines say that stadiums should ‘take steps to reduce queues for ordering’ and ensure that ‘social distancing is maintained at all times’, but will allow fans to drink alcohol without ordering food. A ban that’s been in place since 1985 means no alcohol can be consumed in sight of the pitch.
There have been calls for the rule to be scrapped in light of the pandemic and for a form of ‘table service’ to be allowed at seats in order to avoid fans gathering at bars. However the law has not yet been repealed, meaning that distanced seating may have to be installed on concourses if teams wish to serve alcohol.
That might not be a problem for modern grounds like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. However, older grounds with smaller capacities and narrow concourses may struggle to meet the new regulations and be forced to abandon plans to sell alcohol altogether.
Fans fancying a pint at the grounds able to sell them face another dilemma, however; toilets could be shut.
According to the Telegraph, a code of conduct sent to fans warns: ‘Some of the ground’s amenities, such as toilets, food-and-drink outlets, may not be in operation or may be operating at a reduced capacity.’
Fans are also being warned against signing and shouting to limit the spread of Covid-19, which has forced sporting events to go behind closed doors since March.
Government guidelines warn: ‘If singing is expected to take place, spectators should be reminded of the risks. The cumulative effect of aerosol transmission means the more people involved, the higher the risk of transmission.’
A general view of socially distanced fans in the stadium during the Sky Bet League One match between Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley at Montgomery Waters Meadow
Cambridge United fans watch the action at Abbey Stadium, Cambridge
fan celebrates after his sides first goal scored by Lewis Alessandra of Carlisle United during the Sky Bet League Two match between Carlisle United and Salford City at Brunton Park
Carlisle United fans look on during the match, as a limited number of fans attend stadiums
Fans arrive for the Sky Bet Championship match at The Valley, London
Shrewsbury Town fan Ed Dickson inside the stands before the Sky Bet Championship match at Montgomery Waters Meadow, Shrewsbury
Fans arrive for the Sky Bet Championship match at The Valley, London
Londoners poured into The Valley, the 27,000-capacity sports stadium in Charlton, to watch the League One clash between Charlton Athletic and MK Dons. In Carlisle, spectators flocked to Brunton Park as Carlisle United squared up against Salford City in the Sky Bet League Two game
Arsenal will welcome fans for their clash with Rapid Vienna on Thursday while the north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium will also have supporters.
Sportsmail revealed that the Department for Culture Media and Sport has submitted proposals to the Cabinet Office for the return of fans to grounds in December for the first time since March.
In his statement detailing the long-awaited return of spectators to venues, the PM said: ‘In Tiers 1 and 2 spectator sports and business events will be free to resume inside and outside with capacity limits and social distancing.’
There were fears that Premier League clubs could reject the chance to welcome fans back into their grounds next week due to concerns over cost and the absence of a roadmap towards full capacity crowds.
Sportsmail has been told that while their operating costs vary, all 20 top-flight clubs would lose significant sums if they admitted even the maximum number of 4,000 fans that the Government announced on Monday — a limit that is unlikely to be permitted in large areas of the country.
Carlisle United fans and cut outs inside the stadium before the match, as a limited number of fans are allowed to attend stadiums
To fill up spaces in the stands, cut outs have been added to Brunton Park in Carlisle
Luton Town fans hold up a sign outside the stadium before the match
The Premier League defied the Government in September by cancelling planned test events due to unhappiness at a Downing Street-imposed capacity cap of 1,000, which they deemed uneconomic.
It said: ‘Fans have been greatly missed at Premier League matches and therefore we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today regarding the return of supporters for the first time since March. Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels.
‘Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a financial loss. Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s COVID-secure guidelines and beyond.
‘Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative.
‘We look forward to working with Government on their next steps.’
As it stands, all Premier League clubs that are able to open will be doing so.